In listening to The Honeycutters’ songs such as “Penny,” “Better Woman,” or “On My Mind,” the term “country music” immediately comes to mind. Problem is, it’s difficult to know what qualifies as country these days. “I’m comfortable with the label of country,” says Amanda Anne Platt, lead singer, rhythm guitarist, and primary songwriter for The … Read More
Downtown had its share of festivals but West Asheville, growing as an important arts and cultural part of the city felt a little left out. So in 2010 the All Go West Festival was born. “West Asheville is quickly becoming known for it’s individual flair, when 10 years ago businesses were struggling to thrive,” says … Read More
Members of The Fritz could have been content where they were. The band was a big deal in Jacksonville, Florida, where some of the guys had met at the University of North Florida. Local fans poured into shows. They had a great area following. Life was pretty good. “We were comfortable,” says Jamar Woods, the … Read More
Andrew Fletcher has been featured in The Asheville Post, but not by name. It was his piano that was almost taken by our writer, Elizabeth Newman, in her great piece about Chicken Alley. For anyone who frequents live music venues—especially jazz joints—in Asheville, you’ve most like run across this dapper pianist somewhere along the way. … Read More
Sometimes things happen serendipitously that we simply would not have imagined. Thus is the case with the new CD, Divers, from the Alex Krug Combo. Back in June 2012 the Combo was playing downtown at Lexington Avenue Brewery. It was a letterpress release party for Heroes & Criminals Press, where a letterpress poster of the … Read More
Last September the Victoria and Albert Museum in London announced an exhibition retrospective of David Bowie. My first reaction was that the always-clever businessman Bowie would not miss the opportunity to expand upon this with some elder statesman product. Guess what? Here comes David Bowie. His quietly anthemic single “Where Are We Now? landed gently … Read More
Their eyes lock from across the table. They both reach for the bottle of champagne to fill the other’s glass, and their fingertips brush. The candle flickers and lights up their blush-covered faces. They giggle, smile, then look away. A piano sounds in the background, and it feels like the keys are striking just for … Read More
The lauding of the subjective is upon us. Best of this, most popular of that. It’s list-making season. Here comes mine in the realm of music, probably with a few side trips and digressions. Last year was choked with the goods, so I’ll offer a scatter-shot of the year’s ear candy with clues. Eastern European … Read More
Rocking the heart of downtown in just more than a year in business, Asheville Music Hall has made quite an impression on local music. Add the One Stop Deli downstairs, and you have a one-two punch of constant live music in one building. While the Asheville Music Hall offers a variety of genres, it is … Read More
“Oh wow, this is amazing,” said one patron. “I can’t even believe what they’ve done in here,” remarked another. Standing on the second level looking down at the main stage inside Isis—the new restaurant, bar, and music hall in West Asheville—highly favorable comments from customers was common. The venue cranked out remarkably good sound for … Read More
What do you get when you combine School of Rock-esque awesomeness with real-world training in instrumentation and showmanship from some of the best in the business? You get Asheville’s very own Rock Academy. Anne Coombs and The Music Academy Asheville gang are at it again this Thursday, Dec. 6, at The Orange Peel. True to … Read More
Growing up in a suburb of Nashville, acoustic sounds of country and bluegrass music were part of Ty Gilpin’s surroundings. Legendary bluegrass musician Bill Monroe lived nearby and would play gigs just a couple miles from Ty’s house. His next-door neighbors were in a bluegrass band. Ty began playing mandolin at about 15 years old. … Read More